Vehicle used in brazen robbery found; witness remains in hospital

The vehicle used in Monday morning's robbery at the Circle K on Winkler Avenue has been found abandoned.

Investigators learned this vehicle, further described as a dark blue 2013 Nissan Altima, was taken during a carjacking reported on Sunday at the Walgreens on Colonial Boulevard.

Police are still searching for the three masked men depicted on the video surveillance.

A newspaper delivery man who witnessed the robbery and then chased and shot by the suspects remains in stable condition at Lee Memorial Hospital, friends and coworkers said Tuesday.

A police report on the carjacking describes the victim parking at the store shortly before 4:30 a.m. Sunday. She said she was surrounded by three black men wearing ski masks and pointing handguns at her.

The News-Press is not identifying the woman, the carrier or their friends for their safety.

The Fort Myers Police Department responded to the armed robbery at the Circle K at 2634 Winkler Ave. shortly after 3 a.m. Three males entered the business brandishing firearms, ordered the clerk to the floor and took cash from the register.

A friend of the delivery driver said he was shot only twice, not three times, and suffered wounds to his arm and face. The van was shot at four times.

A bullet was removed from his arm, she said, but another remained in his face above his left eye and his face remained swollen as well. He was to be evaluated by doctors today, she said.

"He told me he never got out of the van," the friend said. "He saw there was a man driving the car and then the three in the store and then he took off."

She said the driver told her the car raced after him and he jammed on the brakes in his van thinking they would go by him. "But they hit the brakes too and shot at him," she said he told her.

Anyone with information is asked to a call FMPD Detective Dan Losapio at 321-7700, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS or text message C-R-I-M-E-S (274637) Keyword FMPD. Tipsters can remain anonymous. Anyone with information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the robbery suspects could be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.